According to the website HorseOnly, there are 7.25 million horses in the United States. Of that total, roughly 150,000 were registered in the American Shetland Pony Club stud-book and 160,000 are recorded with the American Miniature Horse Association.

While the larger horses drastically outnumber these minis, owners of these smaller equine wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. The standard-sizes horse is measured in hands. Miniatures are measured in inches.

“These pint-sized equines are enough to make your voice go up an octave in excitement and wish you were pint-sized once more yourself to enjoy just one more pony ride,” said Delbert Wilson, owner of two miniatures that attended last week’s Tri-State Miniature Horse Club Open Fun Show in Atwater, Ohio. “There’s a lot more to them than their small size suggests.”

While the economy has put a huge dent in just about any venture, those in the miniature horse business say interest in the minis is holding very steady.

“I’ve been with miniature horses for 40 years and I don’t see interest in these small horses slowing down at all,” said Lisa Leonard, show manager for the upcoming Bluegrass Classic Miniature Horse Show. “The numbers are the same at the world and national shows as well.”

The Bluegrass Classic Miniature Horse Show will be July 1-2 at the Western Kentucky University Ag Expo Center in Bowling Green, Ky. Leonard, who has worked with miniature horses for four decades, said the miniature industry is well-established and ownership numbers have risen slightly the past few years.

Amber Kildow, professional horse trainer, owns more than 100 miniature horses and Shetland ponies. She is a third-generation horsewoman who was literally raised in the small equine industry. Kildow is on the board of the American Shetland Pony Club in Morton, Ill. In 2000, Kildow opened Kildow Stables West in Springport, Ind.

“The miniature horse is a booming business,” Kildow said. “Our National Show for the Shetlands to be held in St. Louis in July has more than 700 entries. The National Show for Miniatures to be held in Tulsa in September has more than 1,800 entries. We also offer a Cool Program for those with physical and mental disabilities.”

Miniature horses have been around for a long time, but it wasn’t until the 1960s that the breed became widely known in the United States. The adorable equines that stand 38 inches or shorter have been bred to be pets and work animals.

One reason many choose miniature horses is that they require a lot less space than a regular-sized horse. In fact, they don’t need as much hay or grain either. In addition, a one-half to three-quarter acre lot would be acceptable for a mini horse or two.

Leonard and others say these pint-sized critters make awesome companions to large horses, adding that it does depend on the temperament of both horses, but generally they will get along well.

Another plus of owning a miniature horse is that you can teach them to pull a small cart. Some larger minis can even be saddle broken for little children. In addition, there are halter and jumping classes, obstacle courses, and they work well as therapy animals.

The cost of owning a miniature is much less than owning a regular-sized horse. The initial purchase is generally smaller, ranging from $100 to several thousand dollars.

The upkeep is also considerably cheaper. It costs around $50 a month compared to around $150 or more for a regular horse. Most minis only get hoof trims, which range from $10 to $30. The equipment for a miniature is smaller, thus costing less.

Finally, miniature horses can live up to one-third longer than averages horses. The average lifespan of a mini ranges from 25 to 35 years.

Leonard said the Kentucky Miniature Horse Breeders Club (KMHBC) is the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission affiliate and represents the miniature horse breeders in the Kentucky Breeders’ Incentive Fund (KBIF). The purpose of the KMHBC is to promote the miniature horse, to educate owners, members and other interested parties. The organization’s members have won more than $613,000 in Kentucky Incentive awards.

“The KMHBC registry is very popular in this state because of the Kentucky Breeders’ Incentive Fund,” Leonard said. “It’s huge.”

The KBIF helps to increase the price of the Kentucky-bred miniature horses that people sell and helps increase the market for these miniatures. In addition, owners of these miniatures may receive payouts from the KBIF based on their show performance.

While there is no shortage of miniature horse owners, there is also no shortage of shows for these pint-sized horses. For more information on the Bluegrass Classic Miniature Horse Show, contact Leonard at 270-929-6292.

Other AMHA shows at the Western Kentucky University Ag Expo Center will be Aug. 5-6 and Aug. 19-20.

The Eastern Regional Championship Show will be July 14-16 at the Champions Center in Springfield, Ohio. Contact show manager Laura Mullen for more information at 607-769-6743. 

The AMHA World Championship Show will be Sept. 23-30 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Ft. Worth, Texas. Leonard has presided over this championship gathering the past two years.